Time for leapfrogging reforms in higher education

By Chelo Banal-Formoso. If all goes well, by 2015, the 11 member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), including the Philippines, will have transformed themselves into a “borderless” region where there is free movement of capital, investment, goods, services and skilled labor. What does this mean for our students who will be graduating from universities in a few years and will then be looking for work?
First, the good news: Filipinos will be able to apply for jobs in any Asean country without the need for a working visa. Asean 2015 will open up to qualified applicants from member countries all kinds of employment within member countries, not just the domestic helper jobs that our Asian neighbors are currently dangling before Filipinos, be they college graduates or not. Now, the bad news: Filipinos will be competing with job-seekers from other countries in the region who may be better educated and prepared for what the times and the industries will need. Read more...